TCIA - Alliance Renewal Agreement - December 15, 2008
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance
December 15, 2008
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Alliance Background
Date Signed
November 10, 2006
Evaluation Period
November 10, 2007 – November 9, 2008
Overview
The OSHA and TCIA Alliance focuses on providing TCIA's members and others in the tree care industry, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. In particular, the Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health issues related to tree removal and electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards.
Implementation Team Members
OSHA
- Barney Lawrence
- Office of Outreach Services and Alliance (OOSA)
- Tony Mapes**
- OOSA
- Rob Swick*
- OOSA
- Elizabeth (Bea) Way
- OOSA
TCIA
- Peter Gerstenberger
- Vice President, Safety and Compliance Standards
- Cynthia Mills
- President and CEO
* Rob Swick served as the Alliance Coordinator until January 22, 2008.
** Tony Mapes had served as the Alliance Coordinator since January 22, 2008. -
Implementation Team Meetings
- January 24, 2008
- Implementation Team Meeting
- May 14, 2008
- Implementation Team Meeting
- September 10, 2008
- Implementation Team Meeting
In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.
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Results
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Events and Products
Outreach and Communication Goals
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Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and TCIA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
Products
The following four products were developed by the TCIA through the OSHA and TCIA Alliance and posted to the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site in July 2008.
"Fact Sheet: Lyme Disease"
Through the Alliance, TCIA developed "Fact Sheet: Lyme Disease." The document addresses issues associated with Lyme disease, including its symptoms, treatment options and tick bite prevention and control.
"Quick Card: Chipper Winches"
Through the Alliance, TCIA developed "Quick Card: Chipper Winches." The document addresses the potential hazards, risks and safe work practices regarding operating chipper winches.
"Quick Card: Hydraulic Dump Body Safety Tips"
Through the Alliance, TCIA developed "Quick Card: Hydraulic Dump Body Safety Tips." The document addresses potential hazards, risks, and safe work practices regarding operating truck-mounted hydraulic dump bodies.
"Quick Card: Lyme Disease"
Through the Alliance, TCIA developed "Quick Card: Lyme Disease." The document addresses tick bite prevention and identifying Lyme disease.
OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page
OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and TCIA Alliance agreement, renewal agreements, annual reports, news releases, information on activities and events, and links to resources developed by TCIA through the Alliance Program.
TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page
TCIA is continuing to update the TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page that is posted on the TCIA Web site. The page includes the goals of the Alliance and a link to the OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on the Agency's Web site. In addition, there are links to a number of OSHA's compliance assistance and cooperative program resources.
Print and Electronic Media
TCIA published an article entitled "Safety Training Materials from OSHA" in the October edition of the Tree Care Industry Magazine to address tree care industry accident summaries that are included in the magazine. In addition, articles about the OSHA and TCIA Alliance have appeared in the OSHA Alliance Quarterly Review. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
OSHA Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics Pages
The Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page provides numerous resources regarding hazards found in the tree care industry, including struck-by, electrocution, fall, and caught-in hazards. The following representatives from TCIA serve on the editorial board of the Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:
- Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President of Safety, Compliance, and Standards, Safety and Education, Manchester, New Hampshire
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David G. Marren, Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Bartlett Labs, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or TCIA's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as TCI EXPO, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshops, Career Days, and the Winter Management Conference.
Events
TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional Program Presentations
Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented "Alliance Updates" at the following TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional seminars:
- August 21, 2008, San Jose, California, to 16 tree care professionals
- July 25, 2008, St. Louis, Missouri, to 24 tree care professionals
- June 12, 2008, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to 13 tree care professionals
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June 5, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina, to 8 tree care professionals
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Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TCIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by TCIA and through OSHA- or TCIA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Crane and Chipper Safety for Arborists Workshop, May 23, 2008, Fairfield, Maine
Through the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, seven OSHA staff members from Region I attended the Crane and Chipper Safety for Arborists Workshop, which was sponsored by the Maine Department of Labor, Altec Industries, Maine Arborist Association, Quality Crane Services, and Yale Cordage on May 23, 2008, in Fairfield, Maine. The topics of the training session were safe operating techniques for the use of cranes in tree removal and chipper use in tree care operations.
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Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on tree care industry hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation Team has not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
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Encourage TCIA's members to build relationships with OSHA Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health (MIOSHA) and Six Green Industry Organizations in Michigan form Alliance to Protect Green Industry Workers
TCIA signed a formal alliance on Feb 22, 2008, with MIOSHA and five other green industry organizations: Arboriculture Society of Michigan; Michigan Green Industry Association; Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association; Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and the Utility Line Clearance Coalition to protect the safety and health of Michigan's green industry workers. The goals of the Alliance include, but are not limited to:
- Reducing injuries and illnesses among Michigan green industry workers
- Providing training and education activities specific to the green industry and encouraging member participation
- Developing fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations, "Best Practices" case studies, and a website resource list, to help employers and employees increase their knowledge of safety and health issues and to forge innovative solutions
- Coordinating participation in forums, round table discussions, conferences, and reciprocal website links, to assist employers with compliance and the development of safety and health systems
In addition, the Alliance will enable green industry organizations in Michigan that are committed to workplace safety and health to collaborate with MIOSHA to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.
National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goals
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Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
"Tree Care Industry Association Alliance Member – Kappen Tree Service – Receives Safety Award for 16 Years Without a Lost-Time Accident," Success Story, June 2008
The OSHA and TCIA Alliance Implementation team developed a success story entitled, "Tree Care Industry Association Alliance Member – Kappen Tree Service – Receives Safety Award for 16 Years Without a Lost-Time Accident." The success story details Kappen Tree Service receiving the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Gold Award from Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) for an outstanding safety and health record. The CET Gold Award recognizes an organizations safety and health achievement of 100,000 – 2,000,000 continuous hours worked without days away from work. Kappen Tree Service employees have worked more than 16 years without a lost-time accident.
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Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on tree care industry issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008
TCIA joined with a number of other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Drug-Free Work Week is sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focuses on educating employers, employees, and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008, Washington, DC.
On May 5, 2008, Donald G. Shalhoub, Deputy Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, spoke to OSHA staff, Alliance Program participants and other safety and health professionals during the 2008 NAOSH Week kick-off event at DOL in Washington, D.C. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. William O'Connell, Director, Government Affairs, NSC, attended the event and represented NSC, which, along with a number of other Alliance Program participants, supported the Week. The theme for the 2008 NAOSH Week was "Safety is Good Business."
In support of the Week, TCIA emailed the link to the 2008 NAOSH Week Web page on ASSE's Web site to the associations' member companies.
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Executive Summary
Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and TCIA are working together to reduce and prevent exposure to safety and health issues related to tree removal and electrical, fall, and struck-by hazards. The positive relationship that TCIA has developed over the two years has led to the development of the many programs and projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.
For example, through the Alliance, TCIA developed the following fact sheet and quick cards:
- Fact Sheet: Lyme Disease
- Quick Card: Chipper Winches
- Quick Card: Hydraulic Dump Body Safety Tips
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Quick Card: Lyme Disease
The fact sheet and quick cards are a valuable resource to educate the public and increase awareness of the hazards in the tree care industry. In addition, TCIA invited OSHA staff to attend the Crane and Chipper Safety for Arborists Workshop, sponsored by the MDOL, Altec Industries, Maine Arborist Association, Quality Crane Services, and Yale Cordage on May 23, 2008, in Fairfield, Maine.
As part of their outreach efforts, TCIA also worked with OSHA to develop a success story entitled "Tree Care Industry Association Alliance Member – Kappen Tree Service – Receives Safety Award for 16 years Without a Lost-Time Accident."
Finally, TCIA and a number of Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, May 4-10. In addition, TCIA representatives are sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial board for the OSHA Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page.
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Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) Number of Individuals Reached or Trained OSHA and TCIA Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site 2,137 TCIA and OSHA Alliance Web page on the TCIA Web site Data Not Available OSHA Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics Page 10,143 October 2008 – "Safety Training Materials from OSHA," Tree Care Industry Magazine Data Not Available September 2008 – "Alliance Program Participant Developed Products," Alliance Quarterly Review 145 August 21, 2008 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, San Jose, California
Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented an "Alliance Update."16 July 25, 2008 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, St. Louis, Missouri
Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented an "Alliance Update."24 June 12, 2008 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented an "Alliance Update."13 June 5, 2008 – Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshop, Charlotte, North Carolina
Speaker: Peter Gerstenberger, Vice President, TCIA, presented an "Alliance Update."8 June 2008 – "Company goes 16 years with-out recordable accident," Alliance Quarterly Review 145 Total 12,631
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Upcoming Milestones
In the upcoming year, OSHA and TCIA will be renewing the Alliance agreement for another two years. The OSHA and TCIA Implementation Team are planning to undertake several activities and projects through the Alliance to help employers reduce and prevent exposures to safety issues related to tree removal and electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards. For example, through the Alliance, OSHA and TCIA will draft and finalize the following quick cards and fact sheets:
- Personal Protective Equipment for the Tree Care Industry
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Work Zone Clear Area (Drop Zone) for Tree Trimming Operations
As part of the Alliance's outreach efforts, TCIA will continue to work on identifying members on which success stories can be based. In addition, TCIA representatives will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 3-9, 2009. TCIA representatives also will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards of the Tree Care Industry Safety and Health Topics page.
Finally, OSHA personnel will staff an OSHA and TCIA Alliance exhibit booth at the TCI EXPO, November 5-7, 2009, in Baltimore, Maryland, to distribute OSHA compliance assistance materials and to answer attendees' questions.
Report prepared by: Tony Mapes, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, December 15, 2008